exv10w1






Exhibit 10.1


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BEFORE THE

BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

WASHINGTON, D.C.






	 	 	 	 	 
	Written Agreement among
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Docket No. 08-014-WA/RB-HC
	 	 
	CAPITAL CORP OF THE WEST

	 	08-014-WA/RB-SM	 	 
	Merced, California
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	COUNTY BANK
	 	 	 	 
	Merced, California
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	and
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	FEDERAL RESERVE BANK 

OF SAN FRANCISCO
	 	 	 	 
	San Francisco, California
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 






     WHEREAS, in recognition of their common goal to maintain the financial soundness of Capital
Corp of the West, Merced, California (“Capital Corp”), a registered bank holding company, and
its subsidiary bank, County Bank, Merced, California (the “Bank”), a California state-chartered
bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System, Capital Corp, the Bank, and the Federal
Reserve Bank of San Francisco (the “Reserve Bank”), have mutually agreed to enter into this
Written Agreement (the “Agreement”); and



     WHEREAS,
on July 16, 2008, the boards of directors of Capital Corp and the Bank at
duly constituted meetings adopted resolutions authorizing and
directing Curtis Riggs and Jerry Callister to
enter into this Agreement on behalf of Capital Corp and the Bank, respectively, and consenting
to compliance with each and every provision of this Agreement by Capital Corp and the Bank and
their institution-affiliated parties,



 









 







as defined in sections 3(u) and 8(b)(3) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended (the
“FDI Act”) (12 U.S.C. §§ 1813(u) and 
1818(b)(3)).



     NOW, THEREFORE, Capital Corp, the Bank, and the Reserve Bank, agree as follows:



Board Oversight




     1. Within 120 days of this Agreement, the board of directors of the Bank shall submit to the
Reserve Bank a written plan to improve board oversight of the management and operations of the
Bank. The plan shall, at a minimum, address, consider, and include:



          (a) The actions that the board of directors will take to improve the Bank’s condition and
maintain effective control over and supervision of senior management and major operations and
activities, including, at a minimum:




               (i) the credit risk management program, including loan underwriting, documentation, and
administration;



               (ii) a description of information to be included in the periodic reports that will be
reviewed by the board of directors in its oversight of the operations and management of the Bank;
and



               (iii) internal controls over the internal loan grading system and the Bank’s books
and records; and



          (b) procedures to ensure the Bank’s timely response to deficiencies noted in reports of
examination.




     2. Within 120 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall take such steps as are necessary to
employ a qualified, full-time chief executive officer.



     3. (a) In appointing any new director or senior executive officer, or changing the
responsibilities of any senior executive officer so that the officer would assume a different



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senior executive officer position, Capital Corp and the Bank shall comply with the notice
provisions of section 32 of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. § 183li), Subpart H of Regulation Y of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Board of Governors”)
(12 C.F.R. §§ 225.71 et seq.).




          (b) Capital Corp and the Bank shall comply with the restrictions on
indemnification and severance payments of section 18(k) of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. § 1828(k)) and
Part 359 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s regulations (12 C.F.R. Part 359).




Risk Management




     4. Within 120 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank an
acceptable written plan that describes the specific actions that the board of directors proposes to
take to strengthen the Bank’s risk management practices. The plan shall, at a minimum, address,
consider, and include:



          (a) Enhanced policies and procedures designed to identify, assess, manage, and monitor risk
exposures, including but not limited to the areas of credit, liquidity, operational, legal, and
reputational risks;




          (b) procedures to identify, monitor, and control risks associated with concentrations of
credit, consistent with Interagency Guidance on Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate Lending,
Sound Risk Management Practices, dated December 12, 2006
(SR 07-1, January 4, 2007);




          (c) measures to strengthen board and senior management oversight of risk management policies
and procedures; and




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          (d) management information systems and reporting procedures designed to ensure that
managers, directors, and committees receive timely and accurate reports necessary to effectively
manage risks, monitor compliance with laws, rules, regulations, and Bank policies and procedures,
and correct any weaknesses.




Lending and Credit Administration




     5. Within 90 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank
acceptable written loan and credit administration policies and procedures that shall, at a minimum,
address, consider and include:



          (a) Underwriting standards that are appropriate for each type of loan product offered by the
Bank, and include and provide for, at a minimum:




               (i) documented analysis of the borrower’s repayment source, creditworthiness, and
debt service ability; and



               (ii) clear loan-to-value limits;



          (b) revised construction loan policies to address the deficiencies noted by examiners;




          (c) a complete description of required loan documentation and collateral for each specific
type of loan, and procedures to maintain required documentation in loan files and minimize
documentation exceptions;




          (d) revised policies and procedures relating to the extension or renewal of construction
loans;




          (e) procedures for obtaining updated valuations or impairment analyses on a timely basis; and




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          (f) procedures to identify non-accrual loans and to record non-accrual loans on the
Bank’s financial statements.




Loan Review




     6. Within 90 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank an acceptable
written loan review program. The program shall be designed to identify, categorize, and monitor
problem credits on a consistent, timely, and accurate basis. The program shall, at a minimum,
address, consider, and include:



          (a) The scope and frequency of the loan review;




          (b) standards and criteria for assessing the credit quality of the loans;




          (c) application of loan grading standards and criteria to the loan portfolio;




          (d) periodic written reports to the board of directors that identify the status of those loans
that are adversely graded and the prospects for full collection or strengthening of the quality of
any such loans; and




          (e) processes for identifying loans that no longer meet the criteria for accrual status and
the recording of such on the Bank’s financial statements.




Asset Improvement




     7. (a) The Bank shall not, directly or indirectly, extend or renew any credit to or for
the benefit of any borrower, including any related interest of the borrower, whose extension of
credit has been classified, in whole or in part, “loss,” “substandard,” or “doubtful” in the report
of the examination of the Bank conducted by the Reserve Bank that concluded on February 14, 2008
(the “Report of Examination”) or in any subsequent report of examination, and is uncollected,
without the prior approval of the board of directors, who shall document in writing the reasons for
the extension of credit or renewal, specifically certifying that: (i) the




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extension of credit is necessary to protect the Bank’s interest in the ultimate collection of the
credit already granted or (ii) the extension of credit is in full compliance with the Bank’s
written loan policy, is adequately secured, and a thorough credit analysis has been performed
indicating that the extension or renewal is reasonable and justified, all necessary loan
documentation has been properly and accurately prepared and filed, the extension of credit will not
impair the Bank’s interest in obtaining repayment of the already outstanding credit, and the Bank’s
board of directors reasonably believes that the extension of credit or renewal will be repaid
according to its terms. The written certification shall be signed by the secretary of the board of
directors and made a part of the minutes of the board of directors’ meeting, and a copy of the
signed certification, together with the credit analysis and related information that was used in
the determination, shall be retained by the Bank in the borrower’s credit file for subsequent
supervisory review.




          (b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “related interest” is defined as set forth
in section 215.2(n) of Regulation O of the Board of Governors (12 C.F.R. § 215.2(n)).




     8. (a) Within 90 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve
Bank an acceptable written plan, approved by the Bank’s loan committee, designed to improve the
Bank’s position through repayment, amortization, liquidation, additional collateral, or other means
on each loan or other asset in excess of $1,000,000, including other real estate owned (“OREO”),
that (i) is past due as to principal or interest more than 90 days as of the date of this
Agreement; (ii) is on the Bank’s problem loan list; or (iii) was adversely classified in the Report
of Examination.



          (b) Within 30 days of the date that any additional loan or other asset in excess of
$1,000,000, including OREO, becomes past due as to principal or interest for more than





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90 days, is on the Bank’s problem loan list, or is adversely classified in any subsequent report of
examination of the Bank, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank an acceptable written plan,
approved by the Bank’s loan committee, to improve the Bank’s position on such loan or asset.




          (c) Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter thereafter, the Bank shall
submit a written progress report to the Reserve Bank to update each asset improvement plan, which
shall include, at a minimum, the carrying value of the loan or other asset and changes in the
nature and value of supporting collateral, along with a copy of the Bank’s current watch list,
extension report, and past due/non-accrual report.




Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses




     9. (a) The Bank shall maintain, in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (“GAAP”) and supervisory guidance, an adequate valuation reserve for loan and lease
losses (the “ALLL”). The adequacy of the ALLL shall be determined in accordance with relevant
supervisory guidance, including the Interagency Policy Statements on the Allowance for Loan and
Lease Losses, dated July 2, 2001 and December 13, 2006. The elements of supervisory guidance to be
considered shall include, but are not limited to, the reliability of the Bank’s loan grading
system, the volume of criticized loans, the current level of past due and nonperforming loans, past
loan loss experience, evaluation of probable losses in the Bank’s loan portfolio, including the
potential for the existence of unidentified losses in loans adversely classified, the imprecision
of loss estimates, and examiners’ criticisms noted in the Report of Examination.



          (b) Within 60 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank a
description of the methodology used to determine the Bank’s ALLL. Thereafter, the Bank shall
conduct, at least on a quarterly calendar basis, an assessment of its ALLL and, within





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30 days of the end of each calendar quarter, shall submit to the Reserve Bank the quarterly
assessment, including the methodology used in determining the amount of ALLL for that quarter. The
Bank shall maintain for subsequent supervisory review documentation to support the methodology used
for each quarterly assessment.




Capital Plan




     10. Within 60 days of this Agreement, Capital Corp and the Bank shall submit to the Reserve
Bank an acceptable joint written capital plan (the “Capital Plan”) that will, at a minimum, ensure
that Capital Corp, on a consolidated basis, and the Bank, as a
separate legal entity on a standalone basis, each maintain acceptable leverage, tier one, and total risk-based capital ratios. The
plan shall, at a minimum, address, consider, and include:



          (a) the Bank’s current and future capital requirements, including compliance with the Capital
Adequacy Guidelines for State Member Banks: Risk-Based Measures and Tier 1 Leverage Measures,
Appendices A and B of Regulation H of the Board of Governors (12 C.F.R. Part 208, App. A and B);




          (b) the volume of the Bank’s adversely classified assets, concentrations of credit, adequacy
of the loan loss reserve, projected growth of assets, and projected retained earnings; and




          (c) the source and timing of additional funds that may be needed to fulfill the consolidated
organization’s and the Bank’s future capital requirements.




Dividend Payment and Distributions




     11. (a) The Bank shall not declare or pay any dividends without the prior written
approval of the Reserve Bank and the Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation
of the Board of Governors (the “Director”). All requests for prior approval shall be




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received by the Reserve Bank at least 30 days prior to the proposed dividend declaration date and
shall contain, but not be limited to, current and projected information on earnings, cash flow,
capital, asset quality, and loan loss reserve needs of the Bank.




          (b) Capital Corp shall not declare or pay any dividends unless such declaration or payment is
consistent with the Board of Governors’ Policy Statement on the Payment of Cash Dividends by State
Member Banks and Bank Holding Companies, dated November 14, 1985 (Federal Reserve Regulatory
Service, 4-877 at page 4-323). During the term of this Agreement, Capital Corp shall also not
declare or pay any dividends without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank and the
Director.




          (c) Capital Corp and its non-bank subsidiaries shall not make any
distributions of interest, principal or other sums on subordinated debentures or trust preferred
securities without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank and
the Director (see, Capital
Adequacy Guidelines for Bank Holding Companies: Risk-Based Measure, Appendix A of Regulation Y of
the Board of Governors (12 C.F.R. Part 225 App. A, section II.A.1.c.iv)).




          (d) All requests for prior approval shall be received at least 30 days prior to the proposed
dividend declaration date, proposed distribution on subordinated debentures, and required notice of
deferral on trust preferred securities. All requests shall contain, but not be limited to, current
and projected information on consolidated earnings; cash flow, capital, asset quality and allowance
for loan and lease loss needs of the Bank; and identification of the sources of funds for the
proposed payment or distribution. The Reserve Bank and the Director will determine whether to
approve a request to pay dividends or distributions pursuant to Federal Reserve policy, including
but not limited to, the proposed payment’s impact on Capital Corp’s continued ability to serve as a
source of financial strength to the Bank.





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Debt and Stock Redemption




     12. (a) Capital Corp shall not, directly or indirectly, incur, increase or guarantee any
debt without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank. All requests for prior written
approval shall contain, but not be limited to, a statement regarding the purpose of the debt, the
terms of the debt, the planned source(s) for debt repayment, and an analysis of the cash flow
resources available to meet such debt repayment.



          (b) Capital Corp shall not, directly or indirectly, purchase or redeem any shares of its
stock without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank.




Earnings Plan and Budget




     13. (a) Within 90 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank a
2008 earnings plan and budget that shall, at a minimum, address, consider, and include:



               (i) the responsibilities of the board of directors regarding the definition,
approval, implementation, and monitoring of the earnings plan and budget;



               (ii) an identification of the major areas in, and means by which, the board of directors
and management shall seek to improve the Bank’s earnings and operating performance; and



               (iii) a comprehensive budget that includes the operating assumptions that form the basis
for, and adequately support, major projected income and expense components.



          (b) A Bank business plan and budget for each calendar year subsequent to 2008 shall be
submitted to the Reserve Bank at least 30 days prior to the beginning of that calendar year.





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Liquidity/Funds Management




     14. (a) Within 90 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank an
acceptable written liquidity/funds management policy designed to improve management of the Bank’s
liquidity position and funds management practices. The revised policy shall, at a minimum, address,
consider, and include:



               (i) Appropriate measures to monitor the Bank’s liquidity position;



               (ii) formal tools to estimate liquidity needs on an ongoing basis;



               (iii) specific liquidity targets and parameters, and the maintenance of sufficient
liquidity to meet contractual obligations and unanticipated demands; and



               (iv) the deficiencies related to liquidity and funds management noted in the Report of
Examination.



          (b) Within 90 days of this Agreement, the Bank shall submit to the Reserve Bank an
acceptable contingency funding plan that, at a minimum, identifies available sources of liquidity
and includes adverse scenario planning. 


Compliance with Agreement




     15. Within 10 days of this Agreement, the boards of directors of Capital Corp and the Bank
shall appoint a joint committee (the “Compliance Committee”) to monitor and coordinate Capital
Corp’s and the Bank’s compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. The Compliance Committee
shall be comprised of three or more outside directors who are not executive officers or principal
shareholders of Capital Corp or the Bank, as defined in section 215.2 (e)(1) of the Board of
Governors’ Regulation O (12 C.F.R. § 215.2(3)). At a minimum, the Compliance Committee shall keep
detailed minutes of each meeting and shall report its findings to the board of directors on a
monthly basis.




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Approval, Implementation, and Progress Reports




     16. (a) Capital Corp and the Bank, as applicable, shall submit written plans, policies,
procedures, and programs, that are acceptable to the Reserve Bank within the applicable time
periods set forth in 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 14 of this Agreement.



          (b) Within 10 days of approval by the Reserve Bank, Capital Corp and the Bank, as applicable,
shall adopt the approved plans, policies, procedures and programs. Upon adoption, Capital Corp and
the Bank, as applicable, shall implement the approved plans and program and thereafter fully comply
with them.




          (c) During the term of this Agreement, the approved plans, policies,
procedures and programs shall not be amended or rescinded without the prior written approval of the
Reserve Bank.




     17. Within 20 days after the end of each month following the date of this Agreement, Capital
Corp and the Bank, as applicable, shall submit to the Reserve Bank written progress reports
detailing the form and manner of all actions taken to secure compliance with the provisions of this
Agreement and results thereof. The Reserve Bank may, in writing, modify the reporting schedule or
discontinue the requirement for progress reports.



Communications




     18. All communications regarding this Agreement shall be sent to:




	 	(a)	 	Mr. Joe A. Lozano

Examining Officer

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco 

101 Market Street, Mail Stop 920

San Francisco, California 94105




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	 	(b)	 	Mr. Jerry E. Callister

Chairman of the Board

Capital Corp of the West

County Bank

550 West Main Street

Merced, CA 95340






Miscellaneous


     19. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Reserve Bank may, in
its sole discretion, grant written extensions of time to Capital Corp and the Bank to comply with
any provision of this Agreement.



     20. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon Capital Corp and the Bank and their
institution-affiliated parties, in their capacities as such, and their successors and assigns.



     21. Each provision of this Agreement shall remain effective and enforceable until stayed,
modified, terminated, or suspended in writing by the Reserve Bank.



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     22. The provisions of this Agreement shall not bar, estop or otherwise prevent the Board of
Governors, the Reserve Bank, or any other federal or state agency from taking any other action
affecting Capital Corp and the Bank or any of their current or former institution- affiliated
parties and their successors and assigns.



     23. Pursuant to section 50 of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. §1831aa), this written Agreement is
enforceable by the Board of Governors under section 8 of the FDI Act (12 U.S.C. § 1818).



     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of this 17 day
of July, 2008.




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Capital Corp of the West	 	 	 	Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Curtis Riggs
 

	 	 	 	By:
	 	/s/ Steve Hoffman
 

	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Steve Hoffman
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	County Bank	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Curtis Riggs	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 






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